Local Authority News
20/2/2024
Flights from Wick Airport - Uncertainty over future funding of Wick Aberdeen Service
The Highland Council is currently unable to confirm whether funding will be available to support the Wick-Aberdeen Public Service Obligation (PSO) after 31st March 2024. The funding for the PSO is currently provided on the basis of £1.3m annually, with £1m committed by the Scottish Government and £0.3m committed by The Highland Council.20/2/2024
Primary Strategic Network in Education for Highland
A collaborative network of Head Teachers and Education Officers are working closely together with the goal of improving attainment and achievement in Highland primary schools. Cllr John Finlayson, Education Chair said: "It is essential that we have strong, consultation and communication strategies in place and there is effective and ongoing collaboration between our schools and our central education service.16/2/2024
Council Announces Thermal Pothole Repair Trial - Thurso One Of The Trial Areas
The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has announced that a 3-week trial of a thermal process for pothole repairs will be taking place. An external contractor, Thermal Road Repairs, has been appointed to undertake the trial before the end of the 2023/24 financial year.
30/1/2024
Roads In Caithness Will Get Worse Caithness Area Committee Admits As Funding Is Inadequate For 2024/25
The Council at the Caithness Area Committee agree the roads budget for 2024/25 with exactly the same amount as for 2023/24. Clearly with rapidly increasing costs this will come nowhere near to maintaining the roads to even the poor condition they are now in.
30/1/2024
Community Regeneration Funding awarded to Caithness groups
Caithness Committee Members today (Monday 29 January 2024) considered and assessed applications submitted to the area's Community Regeneration Fund. Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for a number of funds that are available for communities/organisations to access in Highland.25/1/2024
PPP Accounting Flexibility To Be Considered - Short Term Benefit But Long-Term Pain
A briefing has been provided to all members of the Council on an accounting flexibility introduced by Scottish Government and available to Councils to utilise in 2022/23 or 2023/24. A number of reports to Council in recent months have covered this topic, and a number of other Councils have utilised the flexibility in 2022/23 or are considering doing so in 2023/24.19/1/2024
Thurso and Wick High Schools Closed on Friday 19th January
Weather is still hitting school transport services around the county. Wick Unfortunately we have made the decision to close the school tomorrow, Friday 19th January, due to the ongoing snowfall and hazardous road conditions.18/1/2024
Highland Road Conditions Report - Thursday 18 January 2024 - Caithness Main Roads Passable
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
17/1/2024
Launch Of New Access To Trades Initiative
The Highland Council's Employability Service and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are delighted to announce an exciting collaboration to offer a pre-employability programme which seeks to support out-of-work young people on a pathway to the trades. Supported through the Scottish Government's No One left Behind Employability Funding, the Access To Trades initiative will provide a pathway for young people up to the age of 29 years to progress on to the CITB's Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities (SACO) Programme.
17/1/2024
Many Schools Closed Today 17 January 2024
The Highland Council has posted today that the following schools are closed on 17 January 2024. Make sure to check the schools closed listing on the Highland council web site each day.17/1/2024
Highland Road Conditions Report - Wednesday 17 January 2024
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
16/1/2024
Highland Road Conditions Report - Tuesday 16 January 2024
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
5/1/2024
Community Council Notice Of Election To Go Live On 15 January 2024
The Highland Council can confirm that in a final attempt to reform the 30 Community Councils that failed to form in 2023, a Notice of Election will go live on Monday 15 January. Community Councils are voluntary organisations that express the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues from new buildings and roads to local services and facilities.
30/12/2023
Still Time To Take Part In Highland 20mph Consultation
The Council is reminding the public and community groups that there is still time to submit feedback on the Highland-wide 20mph roll-out project. 125 Highland settlements are part of the project which equates to around 610km of roads across the Highlands, 590km of which are on Local Authority Roads.
30/12/2023
Lights, Camera, Action - Filming In The Highlands Brings Welcome Boost
With the eagerly awaited next series of Traitors due to be aired on BBC 1 on the 3 January, The Highland Council is taking the opportunity to highlight the economic boost filming across the Highlands has and the role its film office staff play in attracting productions. The Highland Film Commission, run by Highland Council, assists productions filming in the region by offering free and confidential guidance and support from the pre-production stage right through until filming is complete.28/12/2023
Council Tax Reduction Scheme Helps Households Save £3.5bn
Minister urges those eligible to apply for support. Scottish households have saved more than £3.5 billion in council tax since the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme was introduced a decade ago.28/12/2023
Highland Road Conditions Report - Thursday 28 December 2023
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.27/12/2023
Storm Gerrit Causing Disruptions in Highland
Partner agencies have been meeting to discuss the impacts of Storm Gerrit. There are multiple trees and power lines down blocking numerous routes across the Lochaber area including the A82 trunk road.24/12/2023
A Visitor Levy In Scotland Looks Almost Certain As The Bill Passes The First Stage
MSPs on a Holyrood committee have backed calls for the introduction of a visitor levy in local authorities, and have said that it would be 'unlikely' to deter tourists. Also known as the tourist tax, the legislation would allow councils to introduce an overnight accommodation levy - which Highland Council has been in support of.
22/12/2023
